South-by-Southwest came at a difficult time in 2017. Of course, the country’s still reeling from Trump being in the White House, and you know how the music community feels about that (not to mention tighter immigration rules). More specifically to SXSW, the festival seemed to scale back this year, with some prior big sponsors either absent (Samsung, Hype Machine), less events (Vans, SPIN), or shrunk to über-exclusive private events that everyone wanted to go to and no one could (FADER Fort, Spotify House). Hell, there wasn’t even Über or Lyft this year! And on top of it all, there was a huge, late season snowstorm in the northeast on the first day of SXSW Music that kept a lot of acts (both nor’easters and those flying through) from making it to Austin on time.
Yet through it all, artists & events were able to shine through, Tuesday to Saturday, March 14th to 18th:
Before SXSW Music kicked off, there was SXSW Interactive, which included some musical events:
SATURDAY, MARCH 11th
SXSW Interactive party @ Hotel Vegas
Golden Dawn Arkestra
Click image for photos by Jessica Alexander
Low Cut Connie
Click image for photos by Jessica Alexander
OMNI
Click image for photos by Jessica Alexander
Meatbodies
Click image for photos by Jessica Alexander
~
SUNDAY, MARCH 12th
Tumbler/Planned Parenthood party @ Mohawk
PVRIS
Click image for photos by Jessica Alexander
Sleigh Bells
Click image for photos by Jessica Alexander
~
MONDAY, MARCH 13th
British Music Embassy @ Latitude 30
Sykes
Click image for photos by Chris Becker
Starting on Monday, British Music Embassy took over Latitude 30 with acts like Sykes.
Moogfest party & panel @ Cheer Up Charlie’s
Moogfest sights
Click image for photos by Chris Becker
North Carolina’s experimental music celebration Moogfest came to SXSW with a party and a panel on the future of music & more, ‘Future Thoughts’.
‘Future Thoughts’ Panel
Click image for photos by Chris Becker
Professor Toon
Click image for photos by Chris Becker
~
Pet Rescue party @ Cedar Street Courtyard
MSHO
Click image for photos by Jessica Alexander
~
TUESDAY, MARCH 14th
Lagunitas party @ Scoot Inn
Lagunitas sights
Click image for photos by Jessica Alexander
Lagunitas beer threw a well-run two-day party at Scoot Inn, which on Tuesday included Lizzo.
Lizzo
Click image for photos by Jessica Alexander
~
SXSW Interactive Closing showcase @ Stubb’s
Pennywise
Click image for photos by Jessica Alexander
Stubb’s is always a major space at SXSW, and it served as home for the SXSW Interactive closing party (which could be the SXSW Music opening party) with the relatively more mainstream Jimmy Eat World and Pennywise.
Jimmy Eat World
Click image for photos by Jessica Alexander
~
Other notes:
-The huge snowstorm hit your correspondent, whose Tuesday morning flight to Austin was cancelled, causing him to miss all of the first day.
Unfortunately missed:
-Split Single @ The Blackheart, 2:30 PM. Jason Narducy’s Split Single unfortunately only came to the first day of SXSW, behind their great new Metal Frames (QRO review).
-Spoon @ Buffalo Billiards, 5:30 PM, and The Main, 1:00 AM. One major must-see act at SXSW ’17 was Austin’s own Spoon, who had multiple performances (including three nights at 1:00 AM at The Main, formerly Emo’s), in the run-up to the release that Friday of their new Hot Thoughts.
-!!! @ Maggie Mae’s Rooftop, 8:00 PM.
–The Man In the High Castle showcase @ The Belmont, 8:00 PM. Just to see how Amazon Studios did up The Belmont to promote the second season of The Man In the High Castle, the series based on Philip K. Dick’s seminal ‘What If the Axis Won WWII?’ novel.
-Wu-Tang Clan & Thievery Corporation @ Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theater, 11:30 PM. A great showcase that had a secret restricted photo pass sign-up that was only heard about after it was full. Not the first time a big-name official showcase was heavily restricted at SXSW ’17.
